The schedule promised an interesting insight to different price sectors, with listings including a $500,000 one-bedder in trendy Rushcutters Bay through to a $5 million family home in Hopetoun Avenue, Vaucluse.

Unfortunately for that Vaucluse owner – former Wallaby Michael Brial – his five-bedroom home was withdrawn at the last minute due to lack of interest.

And even the great little $500,000 one-bedder is still available after being passed in on a vendor bid of $530,000. But you’d have to think that will race out the door to a first home buyer or an investor keen on the $530 a week rent.

Some of the properties, though, attracted some very spirited bidding, going well over the reserve price.

A two-bedroom duplex in Bellevue Gardens, Bellevue Hill, was popular, with a furious bidding duel ending at $1,310,000.

A north-facing two-bedder in Waratah Street, Rushcutters Bay, sold for $984,000 after a long fight.

And a couple of bidders had their hearts set on a charming three-bedder in Mill Hill Road, Bondi Junction, which even had a lock up garage. That sold for $1,507,000.

But here’s why smart homehunters are factoring in midweek auctions – there can be less competition, particularly if you wait until the end.

A three-bedroom terrace in Hargrave Street, Paddington, passed in for just $905,000. It sold later for $945,000. That’s a bargain.

And a first home buyer scored a three-bedroom home on a deep block in Kensington for just $880,000.

With those and a couple of properties sold prior, the clearance rate for the night was nine out of the 14 scheduled, or 64 per cent.